The economic impact of sustainability standards on smallholder coffee
This project explores sustainable coffee farming and the improvement of smallholder livelihoods in Ethiopia through the Voluntary Sustainability Standard (VSS) - an initiative that has standards for economic, social, and environmental sustainability metrics that producers need to meet.
Consumers in the global value chain buy products that have certain environmental sustainability attributes either embodied in the product or in the production processes. As a result, VSS-certified producers are expected to adhere to these environmental attributes, which have been shown in studies to reduce deforestation rates, increase plant and fauna diversity, improve agrochemical handling, and improve water and waste management handling.
This project highlights the benefits and challenges associated with Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) certification and suggests strategies for maximising the positive outcomes of certification while addressing the associated costs and barriers in Ethiopia.
